JPH02186306A - Optical fiber with coaxial coupling function and its coupler - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To couple the end faces of optical fibers to each other with high accuracy without requiring such a process as coaxial adjustment which requires a high degree of skill by providing magnetic materials axisymmetrically continuously or partially on the clads of the optical fibers. CONSTITUTION:The optical fiber 10 consists of core part 1, a clad layer 2, and the magnetic material 3 provided axisymmetrically continuously or partially on the clad layer 2. After both the end faces A of the two optical fibers 101 and 102 are disposed to face each other, a magnetic field is applied to the position where the end faces of the two optical fibers couple. The two fibers 101, 102 placed in the magnetic field attract each other by the magnetizing force generated by the magnetic materials 3 clad thereon, but the magnetic materials are clad axisymmetrically thereon and, therefore, the fibers attract each other in such a manner that the axial lines of the fibers align to each other. The fibers are thus stably coupled. The coaxial coupling of the optical fibers is executed simply and easily with the high accuracy in this way without using the coaxial adjustment which is the intricate and difficult process of the high degree of skill.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] One trick! -Separation The present invention relates to an optical fiber with a coaxial function and a coupler for the optical fiber.

Optical fibers are used not only for transmitting optical signals in optical communications, but also for transmitting optical energy such as laser beams. Optical fibers are most efficient when used without any connections along the way, as there is less transmission loss along the way, but in reality, due to special circumstances, they must be used with connections. In such cases, the conventional method of connection is, for example, by using the outer diameter of the optical fiber to bring the end faces of the two optical fibers together, and then introducing the light through one optical fiber and connecting it at the exit of the other optical fiber. Confirm coaxiality while measuring coupling efficiency by measuring emitted light.

1m! I was doing s etc. Further, when accuracy is not required so much, optical fibers are coupled according to the dimensional accuracy of the optical fibers and the processing accuracy of the member that holds the optical fibers.

The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances.
In particular, an optical fiber coupler that can connect two end faces of optical fibers with high precision without requiring a process that requires a high degree of skill such as coaxial g This was done for the purpose of providing an optical fiber with a suitable coaxialization function.

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view for explaining one embodiment of the optical fiber with coaxial function according to the present invention, Figures 2 (a) and (b)
are the optical fibers shown in the 1st y4, respectively.
This is a diagram when viewed from the line direction, and in the diagram, 10 is an optical fiber with a coaxial function according to the present invention, and the optical fiber 10 is:
Core part 1. cladding 1fIJ2 and the cladding layer 2
A magnetic body 3 continuously or partially provided axially symmetrically on the
It consists of As is well known, the optical fiber 10 is 1
It consists of a core part l made of quartz, plastic, or other light guiding material, and a cladding M2 that covers the core part 1.
In the present invention, the cladding layer 2 is coated on the cladding layer 2 axially symmetrically, continuously (FIG. 2(a)), or partially (see FIG. 2(a)) as described above.
Fig. 2(b)) shows Fe, Ni, and Go.

A magnetic material 3 made of permalloy or the like is uniformly coated. The coating with the magnetic material can be performed, for example, by electroless plating, and the thickness thereof varies depending on the magnetizing force, but is preferably iopm or more.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams for explaining an embodiment of a coupler for coupling the end faces of optical fibers with a coaxial function as described above.

10□, 10. is an optical fiber with a coaxial function as described above 11. ．． 11. are optical fibers 10, .
10. Clamper 12 is f1 magnet, 1
3 is a permanent magnet, and in FIG. 3, optical fibers 101 and 10. Figure 4 shows an example of coaxializing
Optical fiber 10. shows an example of making optical fibers 108 and 103 coaxial using permanent magnet 18. ．． 10. Before joining, each end face A is polished to a mirror finish.

Each optical fiber to, , 10g is clamped by a clamper 11□11□ at a position a certain length from the 1M end face A with the end faces A facing each other.

Clamper 11. , LL, at least one of which is freely movable in the axial direction, and may also be movable to some extent in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

After the two optical fibers 101 and the end faces A of 10° are opposed to each other as described above, a magnetic field is applied to the position where the end faces of the two optical fibers are coupled. This magnetic field.

As shown in Figure 3, an electromagnetic field using a coil may be used,
As shown in Figure 4, a magnetic field using a permanent magnet may be used.
Both fibers 10□, 102 placed in a magnetic field are attracted to each other by the magnetizing force generated by the coated magnetic material 3, but at this time, since the magnetic material is coated axially symmetrically,
The optical fibers are pulled together so that their axes align, creating a stable connection. Due to the ability to move in the axial direction (and the direction perpendicular to the axial direction) and the flexibility of the inner body of the optical fiber, the end faces of the optical fibers can be reliably joined together without applying excessive external force. be able to. Thereafter, after confirming that the end faces of the optical fibers are connected, optical fibers 10 and 10. are mechanically fixed and bonded, or bonded using an adhesive. After that, the magnetic field is removed and the clamp is removed.Although the above example describes the case of coaxially coupling optical fibers with diameters of ■, the present invention can also be applied to coaxially coupling optical fibers with different diameters. It is easy to understand what can be done.

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, coaxial tA! ! Optical fibers can be coaxially connected simply and easily with high precision without using complicated and difficult processes that require a high degree of skill.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an embodiment of an optical fiber with a coaxial function according to the present invention;
b) respectively connect the 1st v4 optical fibers to u − ii
The diagrams viewed from the line direction, FIGS. 3 and 4 pq are configuration diagrams for explaining the actual tMfs of the optical fiber coupler according to the present invention, respectively. 1...Core. 2...Clad layer. 3...Magnetic coating film. 10°10□...Optical fiber 1□. 118... Clamper 12... Electromagnet. 13...Permanent magnet.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber with a coaxial function, characterized by having a magnetic material continuously or partially axially symmetrically on the cladding of the optical fiber. 2. A coupler for coupling the end faces of the optical fibers with a coaxial function according to claim 1 so as to face each other, the coupler being arranged at a predetermined interval on the same axis, and A pair of clamps, at least one of which is movable in the axial direction, and a magnetic field generating means disposed between the pair of clamps, the magnetic field being generated between the end faces of the optical fibers arranged oppositely between the clamps. An optical fiber coupler with a coaxial function, characterized in that the magnetic field of the means is applied.